Method of N2O growth of an oxide layer on a silicon carbide layer

ABSTRACT

Methods for fabricating a layer of oxide on a silicon carbide layer are provided by forming the oxide layer on the silicon carbide layer by oxidizing the silicon carbide layer in an N 2 O environment. A predetermined temperature profile and/or a predetermined flow rate profile of N 2 O are provided during the oxidation. The predetermined temperature profile and/or predetermined flow rate profile may be constant or variable and may include ramps to steady state conditions. The predetermined temperature profile and/or the predetermined flow rate profile are selected so as to reduce interface states of the oxide/silicon carbide interface with energies near the conduction band of SiC.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] The present application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/294,307 entitled “METHOD OF N2O GROWTH OF AN OXIDE LAYER ON A SILICON CARBIDE LAYER” filed May 30,2001 and claims priority from, and is a continuation-in-part of, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/834,283 filed Apr. 12, 2001 entitled “METHOD OF N2O ANNEALING AN OXIDE LAYER ON A SILICON CARBIDE LAYER” which claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/237,822, entitled “Method of Improving an Interface Between a Silicon Carbide Layer and an Oxide Layer” and United States Provisional Application Serial No. 60/237,426 entitled “SiC Power MOSFET and Method of Fabrication” which were filed Oct. 3, 2000. The disclosures of each of the above-cited applications are incorporated herein by reference as if set forth fully herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to the fabrication of semiconductor devices and more particularly, to the fabrication of oxide layers on silicon carbide (SiC).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Devices fabricated from silicon carbide are typically passivated with an oxide layer, such as SiO₂, to protect the exposed SiC surfaces of the device and/or for other reasons. However, the interface between SiC and SiO₂ may be insufficient to obtain a high surface mobility of electrons. More specifically, the interface between SiC and SiO₂ conventionally exhibits a high density of interface states, which may reduce surface electron mobility.

[0004] Recently, annealing of a thermal oxide in a nitric oxide (NO) ambient has shown promise in a planar 4H—SiC MOSFET structure not requiring a p-well implant. See M. K. Das, L. A. Lipkin, J. W. Palmour, G. Y. Chung, J. R. Williams, K. McDonald, and L. C. Feldman, “High Mobility 4H—SiC Inversion Mode MOSFETs Using Thermally Grown, NO Annealed SiO₂,” IEEE Device Research Conference, Denver, CO, Jun. 19-21, 2000 and G. Y. Chung, C. C. Tin, J. R. Williams, K. McDonald, R. A. Weller, S. T. Pantelides, L. C. Feldman, M. K. Das, and J. W. Palmour, “Improved Inversion Channel Mobility for 4H—SiC MOSFETs Following High Temperature Anneals in Nitric Oxide,” IEEE Electron Device Letters accepted for publication, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference as if set forth fully herein. This anneal is shown to significantly reduce the interface state density near the conduction band edge. G. Y. Chung, C. C. Tin, J. R. Williams, K. McDonald, M. Di Ventra, S. T. Pantelides, L. C. Feldman, and R. A. Weller, “Effect of nitric oxide annealing on the interface trap densities near the band edges in the 4H polytype of silicon carbide,” Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 76, No. 13, pp. 1713-1715, March 2000, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein as if set forth fully. High electron mobility (35-95 cm²/NVs) is obtained in the surface inversion layer due to the improved MOS interface.

[0005] Unfortunately, NO is a health hazard having a National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) health danger rating of 3, and the equipment in which postoxidation anneals are typically performed is open to the atmosphere of the cleanroom. They are often exhausted, but the danger of exceeding a safe level of NO contamination in the room is not negligible.

[0006] Growing the oxide in N₂O is possible as described in J. P. Xu, P. T. Lai, C. L. Chan, B. Li, and Y. C. Cheng, “Improved Performance and Reliability of N₂O-Grown Oxynitride on 6H—SiC,” IEEE Electron Device Letters, Vol. 21, No. 6, pp. 298-300, June 2000, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference as if set forth fully herein. Xu et al. describe oxidizing SiC at 1100° C. for 360 minutes in a pure N₂O ambient and annealing in N₂ for 1 hour at 1100° C.

[0007] Post-growth nitridation of the oxide on 6H—SiC in N₂O at a temperature of 1100° C. has also been investigated by Lai et al. P. T. Lai, Supratic Chakraborty, C. L. Chan, and Y. C. Cheng, “Effects of nitridation and annealing on interface properties of thermally oxidized SiO₂/SiC metal-oxide-semiconductor system,” Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 76, No. 25, pp. 3744-3746, June 2000, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference as if set forth fully herein. However, Lai et al. concluded that such treatment deteriorates the interface quality which may be improved with a subsequent wet or dry anneal in O₂ which may repair the damage induced by nitridation in N₂O. Moreover, even with a subsequent O₂ anneal, Lai et al. did not see any significant reduction in interface state density as compared to the case without nitridation in N₂O.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] Embodiments of the present invention provide methods for fabricating a layer of oxide on a silicon carbide layer by forming the oxide layer on the silicon carbide layer by oxidizing the silicon carbide layer in an N₂O environment. Preferably, a predetermined temperature profile and/or a predetermined flow rate profile of N₂O are provided during the oxidation. The predetermined temperature profile and/or predetermined flow rate profile may be constant or variable and may include ramps to steady state conditions. The predetermined temperature profile and/or the predetermined flow rate profile are selected so as to reduce interface states of the oxide/silicon carbide interface with energies near the conduction band of SiC.

[0009] In particular embodiments of the present invention, the predetermined temperature profile may result in an oxidation temperature of at least about 1200° C. In particular embodiments, the oxidation temperature is about 1300° C. In further embodiments of the present invention, the duration of the oxidation may vary depending on the thickness of the oxide layer desired. Thus, oxidation may be carried out for from about 15 minutes to about 3 hours or longer.

[0010] In additional oxidation embodiments of the present invention, the predetermined flow rate profile includes one or more flow rates of from about 2 Standard Liters per Minute (SLM) to about 6 SLM. In particular embodiments, the flow rates are from about 3.5 to about 4 Standard Liters per Minute.

[0011] In further embodiments, formation of the oxide layer may be followed by annealing the oxide layer in inert gas such as Ar or N₂ or combinations thereof. The post formation anneal may also be carried out in a hydrogen containing environment, such as H₂ or combinations of H₂ and one or more inert gases such as Ar or N₂. Such an annealing operation may be carried out, for example, for about one hour.

[0012] In still further oxidation embodiments of the present invention, the predetermined flow rate profile provides a velocity or velocities of the N₂O of from about 0.37 cm/s to about 1.11 cm/s. In particular embodiments, the predetermined flow rate profile provides a velocity or velocities of the N₂O of from about 0.65 cm/s to about 0.74 cm/s.

[0013] In additional oxidation embodiments, methods for fabricating a layer of oxide on a silicon carbide layer include forming the oxide layer on the silicon carbide layer in an N₂O environment at a predetermined temperature profile which includes an oxidation temperature of at least about 1200° C. and at a predetermined flow rate profile for the N₂O. The predetermined flow rate profile may be selected to provide an initial residence time of the N₂O of at least about 11 seconds.

[0014] In particular oxidation embodiments of the present invention, the initial residence time may be from about 11 seconds to about 33 seconds. In still further embodiments of the present invention, the initial residence time is from about 19 seconds to about 22 seconds.

[0015] Additionally, a total residence time of the N₂O may be from about 28 seconds to about 84 seconds. In such oxidation embodiments of the present invention, the total residence time may also be from about 48 seconds to about 56 seconds.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016]FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a furnace tube suitable for use in embodiments of the present invention;

[0017]FIG. 2A is a flowchart illustrating processing steps according to anneal embodiments of the present invention;

[0018]FIG. 2B is a flowchart illustrating processing steps according to oxidation embodiments of the present invention;

[0019]FIG. 3 is a graph illustrating the interface trap density versus energy level from the conduction band (EC-E) for various flow rates of N₂O at 1175° C.;

[0020]FIG. 4 is a graph of interface trap density (D_(IT)) versus energy level from the conduction band for various flow rates at 1200° C.;

[0021]FIG. 5 is a graph of D_(IT) versus energy level from the conduction band for various anneal temperatures;

[0022]FIG. 6 is a graph of D_(IT) versus energy level from the conduction band at 1175° C. for anneals of various different durations;

[0023]FIG. 7 is a graph of D_(IT) versus energy level from the conduction band for a post-treatment anneal in Ar and N₂;

[0024]FIG. 8 is a graph of D_(IT) versus energy level from the conduction band for an initial thermal oxide and an initial LPCVD oxide;

[0025]FIG. 9 is a graph of D_(IT) versus energy level from the conduction band for oxide layers formed with and without a wet reoxidation; and

[0026]FIG. 10 is a graph of D_(IT) versus energy level from the conduction band at 1175° C. for anneals of various different durations.

[0027]FIG. 11 is a graph illustrating the interface trap density (Dit) versus energy level from the conduction band (E_(c)-E) for various anneal temperatures;

[0028]FIG. 12 is a graph of D_(IT) versus energy level from the conduction band for various thermal oxidation, post-growth N₂O anneals and N₂O oxidation;

[0029]FIG. 13 is a graph of effective surface channel mobility versus gate voltage for 4H—SiC planar MOSFETs with and without N₂O processing;

[0030]FIG. 14 is a graph of interface states for the oxides of FIG. 13;

[0031]FIGS. 15A and 15B are graphs of the effective Surface Channel Mobility for horizontal channel buffered gate devices fabricated with N₂O grown oxides according to embodiments of the present invention;

[0032]FIGS. 16A and 16B are graphs of the effective Surface Channel Mobility of lateral metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistors fabricated with N₂O grown oxides according to embodiments of the present invention; and

[0033]FIGS. 17A, 17B and 17C are graphs of effective channel mobility at different gate biases for devices having oxide layers fabricated according to embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0034] The present invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. In the drawings, the thickness of layers and regions are exaggerated for clarity. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. It will be understood that when an element such as a layer, region or substrate is referred to as being “on” another element, it can be directly on the other element or intervening elements may also be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on” another element, there are no intervening elements present.

[0035] Embodiments of the present invention provide methods which may improve the interface between an oxide layer and SiC in any device which includes such an interface. These methods are especially advantageous in the fabrication of Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor (MOS) devices created on SiC. Using embodiments of the present invention, interface states with energy levels near the conduction band of SiC may be dramatically reduced. Reduction of such defects may be advantageous, because these defects may limit a MOSFET's effective surface channel mobility.

[0036] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2A and 2B which are a schematic illustration of a furnace tube suitable for use in embodiments of the present invention and flow charts illustrating operations according to particular embodiments of the present invention. As seen in FIG. 1, the furnace tube 10 has a plurality of wafers 12 of SiC either with an oxide layer, such as SiO₂, formed thereon or on which an oxide layer is to be formed. Preferably, the SiC wafer is 4H—SiC. The wafers 12 are placed on a carrier 14 such that the wafers will, typically have a fixed position in the furnace tube 10. The carrier 14 is positioned so that the wafers are a distance L1+L2 from an inlet of the furnace tube and extend for a distance L3 within the furnace tube 10. Input gases 16, include N₂O which provides an N₂O environment as described herein, are passed into the furnace tube 10 and are heated as they traverse the distance L1 based on a predetermined temperature profile so as to provide the heated gases 18. The heated gases 18 are maintained at temperatures based on the predetermined temperature profile and traverse the distance L2 to reach the first of the wafers 12. The heated gases 18 continue to pass through the furnace tube 10 until they leave the furnace tube 10 through an outlet port as exhaust gases 20. Thus, the heated gases 18 traverse the distance L3. The heated gases 18 are preferably maintained at a substantially constant temperature for the distances L2 and L3, however, as will be appreciated by those of skill in the art in light of the present disclosure, various temperature profiles may also be utilized. Such profiles may include variations in temperature over time or distance. However, the predetermined temperature profile should include either an anneal temperature of greater than about 1100 ° C. or an oxidation temperature of at least about 1200° C.

[0037] As is seen in FIG. 1, the heated gases 18 may reach a temperature at which the N₂O begins to break down into its constituents at the end of the L1 distance. This distance may depend on the physical characteristics of the furnace tube 10, the predetermined temperature profile and the flow rate profile. After reaching the temperature at which the N₂O begins to break down, the heated gases 18 traverse the distance L2 before reaching the wafers 12. The amount of time that it takes the heated gases to traverse the distance L2 is referred to herein as an “initial residence time.” Preferably, the heated gasses are maintained at a substantially constant temperature corresponding to an anneal temperature of greater than about 1100° C. or an oxidation temperature of at least about 1200° C. for the initial residence time. However, as will be appreciated by those of skill in the art, differing heating profiles could be utilized which increase or decrease the initial residence time. It is preferred, however, that the heating profile be rapid such that the initial residence time is substantially the same as the time that the heated gases 18 are maintained at an anneal temperature of greater than about 1100° C. or an oxidation temperature of at least about 1200° C. before traversing the L3 distance.

[0038] The total amount of time that it takes the heated gases 18 to traverse the distance L2+L3 is referred to herein as the “total residence time.” As will be appreciated by those of skill in the art in light of the present disclosure, these residence times depend on the velocity of the heated gases 18 through the furnace tube 10 which may be determined based on the flow rates of the heated gases 18 and the cross-sectional area of the furnace tube 10. Such velocities may be average velocities, for example, if turbulent flow is achieved, or may be actual velocities, for example, in laminar flow systems. Thus, the term velocity is used herein to refer to both average and actual velocities.

[0039]FIG. 2A illustrates operations according to embodiments of the present invention and will be described with reference to FIG. 1. However, as will be appreciated by those of skill in the art in light of the present disclosure, embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the furnace tube embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 but may be carried out in any system capable of providing the conditions described herein. Turning to FIG. 2A, operations may begin by forming an oxide layer on SiC layer (block 30). The SiC layer may be an epitaxial layer and/or a substrate. Furthermore, the oxide layer may be formed by deposition, such as Low Pressure Chemical Vapor Deposition (LPCVD), thermally grown through a thermal oxidation process and/or formed using other techniques. Preferably, the oxide layer is formed utilizing a wet reoxidation process as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,972,801, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference as if set forth fully herein. Furthermore, the oxide layer may be formed in situ with the subsequent N₂O anneal and in situ with the SiC layer and/or it may be formed in a separate chamber.

[0040] The oxide layer is then annealed in an N₂O environment at a predetermined temperature and a predetermined flow rate (block 32). Preferably, the oxide is annealed using a predetermined temperature profile which includes an anneal temperature of greater than about 1100° C. in a chamber in which N₂O is supplied at a flow rate profile within predetermined flow rate limits. In further embodiments, the temperature of the anneal is about 1175° C. or higher. In particular embodiments, an anneal temperature of about 1200° C. may be utilized. The flow rate limits of N₂O may be selected based on the particular equipment in which the process is used. However, in particular embodiments the flow rate limits of N₂O may be as low as about 2 Standard Liters per Minute (SLM) or as high as about 8 SLM. In further embodiments, flow rate limits of from about 3 to about 5 SLM may be preferred.

[0041] For a 6 inch diameter furnace tube, flow rates of from 2 SLM to 8 SLM result in gas velocities as low as about 0.37 cm/sec or as high as about 1.46 cm/sec or, and flow rates of from 3 to 5 SLM result in velocities of from about 0.55 cm/s to about 0.95 cm/s. In particular, for an L2 distance of about 12 inches (about 30.48 cm) and an L3 distance of about 18 inches (about 45.72 cm), such velocities result in an initial residence time of from about 11 seconds to about 45 seconds and a total residence of from about 28 seconds to about 112 seconds. In particular preferred embodiments, the initial residence time is from about 16 seconds to about 31 seconds and a total residence time of from about 41 to about 73 seconds. The N₂O anneal may be carried out for about 3 hours, however, anneals of from about 30 minutes to about 6 hours may also be utilized although longer times may also be utilized.

[0042] As is further illustrated in FIG. 2A, the N₂O anneal may be followed by an optional anneal (block 34) in inert gas or gases, such as argon and/or N₂ or combinations thereof. The optional anneal may also be carried out in a hydrogen containing environment, such as H₂ or H₂ in combination with one or more inert gases, such as such as argon and/or N₂ or combinations thereof. Such an anneal may be carried out for about 1 hour, however, anneals of up to about 3 hours or longer may also be utilized.

[0043]FIG. 2B illustrates operations according to further embodiments of the present invention and will be described with reference to FIG. 1. However, as will be appreciated by those of skill in the art in light of the present disclosure, embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the furnace tube embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 but may be carried out in any system capable of providing the conditions described herein. Turning to FIG. 2B, operations begin by providing a SiC layer (block 60). The SiC layer may be an epitaxial layer and/or a substrate. The oxide layer is then formed in an N₂O environment at a predetermined temperature and/or a predetermined flow rate (block 62).

[0044] The oxide layer is formed by oxidizing the SiC wafers 12 using a predetermined temperature profile which includes an oxidation temperature of greater than about 1200° C. in a chamber in which N₂O is supplied at a flow rate profile within predetermined flow rate limits. In further embodiments, the temperature of the oxidation is about 1300° C. The flow rate limits of N₂O may be selected based on the particular equipment in which the process is used. However, in particular embodiments, the flow rate limits of N₂O maybe as low as about 2 Standard Liters per Minute (SLM) or as high as about 6 SLM or higher. In further embodiments, flow rate limits of from about 3.5 SLM to about 4 SLM may be preferred. As used herein, N₂O refers to pure N₂O or N₂O in combination with other oxidizing agents, such as steam, O₂, and/or inert gases.

[0045] For a 6 inch diameter furnace tube, flow rates of from about 2 SLM to about 6 SLM result in gas velocities as low as about 0.37 cm/sec or as high as about 1.11 cm/sec. Similarly, for a 6 inch diameter furnace tube, flow rates of from 3.5 SLM to 4 SLM result in velocities of from about 0.65 cm/s to about 0.74 cm/s. In particular, for an L2 distance of about 12 inches (about 30.48 cm) and an L3 distance of about 18 inches (about 45.72 cm), such velocities result in an initial residence time of from about 11 seconds to about 33 seconds and a total residence time of from about 28 seconds to about 84 seconds. In particular preferred embodiments, the initial residence time is from about 19 second to about 22 seconds and the total residence time is from about 49 to about 56 seconds. The N₂O oxidation may be carried out for an amount of time dependent on the desired thickness of the oxide layer. For example, oxidation times of about 3 hours or greater may be utilized.

[0046] As is further illustrated in FIG. 2B, the N₂O oxidation may be followed by an optional anneal (block 34′) in an inert gas, such as argon or N₂. Optionally, the anneal may be carried out in a hydrogen containing environment, such as H₂ or H₂ in combination with one or more inert gases, such as argon and/or N₂ or combinations thereof. Such an anneal may be carried out for about up to 1 hour, however, anneals of up to about 3 hours or longer may also be utilized.

[0047] As seen in FIGS. 3 through 14, it has been found that, by appropriately controlling the anneal and/or oxidation temperature and N₂O flow rate in accordance with the present invention, the SiC/SiO₂ interface quality may be improved, rather than damaged as taught by Lai et al.

[0048] While not wishing to be bound by any theory of operation, it appears that at high temperatures (above 800° C.), a fraction of N₂O will break down into N₂, O₂ and NO. The fraction of NO is determined by the temperature and the amount of time the gas remains at elevated temperatures, which is determined by the flow rate of the gas, the cross-sectional area of the furnace tube and the distances in the tube. Table 1 shows the effect of the flow rate of N₂O on the maximum interface state density for an anneal of 3 hours at 1175° C., followed by a 1 hour Ar anneal after the N₂O anneal. TABLE 1 Effect of Flow Rate on N₂O Anneal. Maximum Interface State Density Flow Rate (10¹² cm⁻²eV⁻¹) no anneal 2.7 8 SLM (1.46 cm/s) 1.5 6 SLM (1.10 cm/s) 0.7 4 SLM (0.73 cm/s) 0.6 2 SLM (0.37 cm/s) 1.0

[0049] As shown in Table 1, the anneal with 4 SLM of N₂O has the lowest interface state densities, and the most negative flat-band voltage. Accordingly, in particular embodiments of the present invention flow rates of from about 4 to about 6 SLM may be utilized.

[0050]FIGS. 3 through 10 illustrate the profile of interface trap density (Dit) throughout the bandgap at the SiC/SiO₂ interface for various embodiments of the present invention. D_(IT) may be measured using any technique known to those of skill in the art.

[0051]FIG. 3 illustrates the interface trap density versus energy level for various velocities of N₂O for the flow rates in Table 1 with an anneal temperature of 1175° C. As seen in FIG. 3, while each of the flow rates results in a reduced trap density as compared to no N₂O anneal, the greatest reduction in trap density is provided by flow rates yielding velocities of 0.7 cm/s and 1.1 cm/s. FIG. 3 illustrates that the optimal flow rate is approximately 0.7 cm/s (or approximately 4 SLM).

[0052]FIG. 4 is a graph of D_(IT) versus energy level for various velocities with an anneal temperature of 1200° C. FIG. 4 likewise indicates that for a 1200° C. anneal, the greatest reduction in trap density is achieved with a velocity of approximately 0.7 cm/s (or approximately 4 SLM). Thus, from FIGS. 3 and 4, initial residence times of about 22 seconds may provide the greatest reduction in trap density.

[0053]FIG. 5 is a graph of D_(IT) versus energy level for various anneal temperatures. FIG. 5 illustrates that the temperature should be above 1100° C. to obtain a reduction in Dit, and preferably above 1175° C.

[0054]FIG. 6 is a graph of D_(IT) versus energy level at 1175° C. for anneals of different durations, namely one minute and three hours. As seen in FIG. 6 a reduction in trap density is achieved by a longer duration anneal (3 hours) over a short duration anneal (1 minute).

[0055]FIG. 7 is a graph of D_(IT) versus energy level for a post-treatment anneal in Ar and N₂. FIG. 7 indicates that both atmospheres are suitable for purposes of the present invention, since they produce substantially similar results.

[0056]FIG. 8 is a graph of D_(IT) versus energy level for two different types of oxides, a thermal oxide and an LPCVD oxide. FIG. 8 illustrates that trap densities may be reduced utilizing embodiments of the present invention for both types of oxides as similar results are achieved for both types of oxide.

[0057]FIG. 9 is a graph of D_(IT) versus energy level for anneal times of 3 hours where the oxide layer included a wet reoxidation as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,972,801, and for an anneal which did not utilize a wet reoxidation process. As can be seen from FIG. 9, decreased interface densities were achieved when a wet re-oxidation process was utilized.

[0058]FIG. 10 is a graph of D_(IT) versus energy level for durations of 1.5 and 3 hours. As can be seen from FIG. 10, it appears that durations as long as 3 hours may be no more effective, and possible less effective, than durations of about 1.5 hours. However, either duration appears to provide acceptable results.

[0059] As illustrated in FIG. 11, annealing in an N₂O environment at higher temperatures results in better interface characteristics over lower temperature anneals, as it appears that the chemistry yields more of the desired NO, by breaking down the N₂O during the process. This is seen in FIG. 11, where N₂O processing at 1100° C., 1200° C. and 1300° C. are compared. Furthermore, at higher temperatures, the oxidation rate increases significantly. At these higher rates, growing the oxide (as opposed to annealing an existing oxide) in the N₂O ambient would be expected to be feasible. Oxides grown in N₂O at 1300° C. have interface characteristics as good or better than SiO₂/SiC interface characteristics reported to date and may significantly reduce the processing time required to separately grow the oxide and anneal it. As seen in FIG. 12, the “1300 grown” line illustrates the interface characteristics for an N₂O oxidation process. Such an N₂O oxidation may save several hours of processing time by eliminating the need for both growth and anneal steps.

[0060] As described above, SiC devices having an oxide-SiC interface, such as SiC Metal Oxide Semiconductor (MOS) devices may be severely impacted by the large density of interface states present at the SiC/SiO₂ interface. Interface states near the conduction band-edge may be particularly effective at inhibiting SiC device performance. Early improvements in oxidation processes typically reduced interface states only from the valence band to mid-gap. More recent progress has been accomplished using an NO anneal, which may lower the interface state densities near the conduction band-edge. While these improvements using NO annealing may be important, use of this gas in traditional furnaces may not be desirable with the health risks associated with pure NO. As described herein, the use of N₂O has been pursued and effectively developed as an alternative to NO.

[0061] As shown in FIG. 13, the temperature of the N₂O processing may be important. At lower temperatures (1100° C.), exposing an existing oxide to N₂O increases the interface state density, as shown by comparing the heavy solid line representing a thermal oxide to the data for the same thermal oxide exposed to an 1100° C. N₂O anneal. At 1200° C., the thermal oxide is significantly improved with the N₂O anneal. Thermal oxides processed in a wet ambient may be further improved by the 1200° C. N₂O anneal, as seen by comparing the solid circle to the open circle data. Further improved results were obtained using a 1300° C. N₂O process. At this temperature, the oxidation of SiC is significant. So, in addition to annealing existing oxides in N₂O, some oxides were grown in the N₂O ambient (500 Å was grown in 3 hours). Growing the oxide in N₂O may save about 9 hours of processing time over annealing an existing oxide in N₂O, by eliminating the oxidation step. Substantially the same results were obtained regardless of whether the oxide was grown prior to N₂O processing or grown in N₂O.

[0062] MOSFETs processed with a 1200° C. N₂O annealed oxide had higher effective surface channel mobility than devices that did not receive the N₂O anneal, as shown in FIG. 13. The interface state densities measured on nearby p-type capacitor structures and corresponding n-type capacitors are shown in FIG. 14. The reduction in interface state density appears to directly correlate with an improvement in effective surface channel mobility.

[0063] In further examples of embodiments of the present invention, two n-type 4H wafers and two p-type 4H wafers were obtained. These four wafers were further divided, such that one wafer from each pair received an implant layer, and epitaxial re-growth to simulate a horizontal channel buffered gate FET (HCBGFET) device while MOSFETs were fabricated on the other wafers. The horizontal channel buffered gate FET devices were fabricated on the selected wafers by a blanket Al implant and an implant anneal. An additional n-type epi layer was grown on this implanted layer. The Source/Drain regions were implanted and annealed. These wafers were isolated by etching the n-type epi layer in non-device regions. A field oxide was deposited and densified. Active device areas were opened in the field oxide. The gate insulator was grown in N₂O at 1300° C. The gate metal was deposited and patterned. Source/Drain contacts were deposited. Backside Pt was deposited. The contacts were annealed to make them ohmic.

[0064] Effective surface channel mobilities and threshold voltages were measured for the MOSFETs. Additionally, “fatFET” devices, which had a gate length of 200 μm and width of 200 μm, were utilized for these measurements as the device characteristics will be dominated by the channel resistance. Table 2 summarizes this fatFET data. TABLE 2 Parameters for MOSFETs with gate oxides thermally grown in N₂O. Mobility Wafer Description Yield V_(T) (V) (cm²/v-s) #1 MOSFET 80% 5.6 17.8 (20.0) #2 MOSFET 82% 4.9 21.2 (24.0) #3 HCBGFET 89% 1.3 96.9 (230) #4 HCBGFET 98% 1.9 72.3 (240) #3 HCBGFET 58% 1.8 55.5 only normally-off (99.0) #4 HCBGFET 70% 2.5 41.0 only normally-off (75.0)

[0065] In Table 2, the averages are given, with the highest effective surface channel mobility being given in parentheses. Ten columns and seven rows (less four comers) were probed=66 total.

[0066] The horizontal channel buffered gate devices exhibited high effective surface channel mobilities, but the highest mobilities corresponded with normally-on devices, which is undesirable. More appropriate statistics are shown in the last two rows where all normally-on devices have been excluded from the calculations. Even eliminating the normally-on devices, the HCBGFET results indicate 15 improvement over conventional oxide processes. One wafer exhibited an average effective surface channel mobility of 55.5 cm²/NV-s, with a maximum of 99 cm²/V-s, while the other wafer has an average effective surface channel mobility of 41 cm²/NV-s, with a maximum of 75 cm²/NV-s. The variation is likely due to the variation in the doping of the epitaxial layer. This variation is shown in FIGS. 15A and 15B.

[0067]FIGS. 15A and 15B illustrate the effective Surface Channel Mobility across Wafers #3 (FIG. 15A) and #4 (FIG. 15B). The doping was higher on the edge of the wafer, turning the device normally-on, and producing very high mobilities.

[0068] The lateral MOSFETs did not show the same degree of variation in mobility as the HCBGFETs as is shown in FIGS. 16A and 16B. FIGS. 16A and 16B are graphs of the effective Surface Channel Mobility across Wafers #1 (FIG. 16A) and #2 (FIG. 16B). As seen in FIGS. 16A and 16B, the mobility was very uniform across the wafer, except for the occasional non-yielding device. Typically, 4H—SiC MOSFETs with thermal or deposited oxides without NO or N₂O processing typically had mobilities in the single digits. The reduction of interface states obtained by growing the oxide in N₂O has effectively increased by a factor of tenthe surface channel mobility.

[0069] The mobility of these lateral MOSFETs may be important because the HCBGFET mobility is believed to be limited by this surface mobility at high fields. The mobility at different gate biases is shown in FIGS. 17A, 17B and 17C. Notice that at high gate biases, there is very little difference between the MOSFETs of wafers #1 and #2, in FIG. 17A, and the HCBGFETs of wafers #3 (FIG. 17B) and #4 (FIG. 17C).

[0070] As is illustrated in the above example, improved effective surface channel mobility may be provided in MOSFETs with gate oxides grown in N₂O. Standard lateral devices have mobilities around 20 cm /v-s. HCBGFET mobilities as high as 240 cm /v-s have been obtained on normally-on devices and 99 cm²/v-s for normally-off devices. Furthermore, as is illustrated by FIGS. 3-17C above, through use of embodiments of the present invention, interface trap densities for oxide layers formed on silicon carbide may be reduced utilizing an N₂O oxidation and/or anneal without the need for a subsequent wet O₂ anneal. Additionally, the N₂O oxidation may be carried out with other gases in the ambient as described above. Also, N₂O oxidation may be followed by N₂O anneal as described in commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/834,283, entitled “METHOD OF N₂O ANNEALING AN OXIDE LAYER ON A SILICON CARBIDE LAYER”, filed Apr. 12, 2001, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference as if set forth fully herein.

[0071] In the drawings and specification, there have been disclosed typical preferred embodiments of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims. 

That which is claimed is:
 1. A method of fabricating a silicon carbide structure, comprising: oxidizing a layer of silicon carbide in an environment comprising N₂O using a predetermined temperature profile which includes an oxidation temperature of at least about 1200° C.
 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of oxidizing a layer of silicon carbide in an environment comprising N₂O, further comprises oxidizing the layer of silicon carbide utilizing a flow rate profile of N₂O which includes a flow rate which provides an initial residence time of the N₂O of at least about 11 seconds.
 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the initial residence time is from about 11 seconds to about 33 seconds.
 4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the initial residence time is from about 19 seconds to about 22 seconds.
 5. The method according to claim 2, wherein a total residence time of the N₂O is from about 28 seconds to about 84 seconds.
 6. The method according to claim 2, wherein a total residence time of the N₂O is from about 49 seconds to about 56 seconds.
 7. The method according to claim 2, wherein the flow rate profile provides a flow rate of from about 2 Standard Liters per Minute (SLM) to about 6 SLM.
 8. The method according to claim 2, wherein the flow rate profile provides a flow rate of from about 3.5 to about 4 Standard Liters per Minute.
 9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of oxidizing the silicon carbide layer is followed by the step of annealing.
 10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the step of annealing is carried in at least one of an environment comprising Ar, an environment comprising N₂ and/or a hydrogen containing environment.
 11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the step of annealing is carried out for about one hour.
 12. The method according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined flow rate provides a velocity of the N₂O of from about 0.37 cm/s to about 1.11 cm/s.
 13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the predetermined flow rate provides a velocity of the N₂O of from about 0.65 cm/s to about 0.74 cm/s.
 14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of oxidizing the silicon carbide layer comprises oxidizing the silicon carbide layer in an environment comprising N₂O including at least one of oxidizing agents and/or inert gases.
 15. The method according to claim 15, wherein the oxidizing agents comprise at least one of steam and/or O₂.
 16. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of oxidizing the silicon carbide layer is followed by the step of annealing in an environment comprising N₂O at an anneal temperature of greater than about 1100° C.
 17. The method according to claim 1, wherein the silicon carbide layer comprises 4H polytype silicon carbide.
 18. The method according to claim 1, wherein the silicon carbide layer comprises a silicon carbide layer on a non-silicon carbide substrate.
 19. The method according to claim 1, wherein the silicon carbide layer comprises a portion of a silicon carbide substrate.
 20. The method according to claim 1, wherein the oxidation temperature is about 1300° C.
 21. The method according to claim 20, wherein the step of oxidizing a layer of silicon carbide in an environment comprising N₂O, further comprises oxidizing the layer of silicon carbide utilizing a flow rate profile of N₂O which includes a flow rate which provides an initial residence time of the N₂O of at least about 11 seconds.
 22. The method according to claim 20, wherein the step of oxidizing the silicon carbide layer is followed by the step of annealing.
 23. The method according to claim 22, wherein the step of annealing is carried in at least one of an environment comprising Ar, an environment comprising N₂ and/or a hydrogen containing environment.
 24. The method according to claim 22, wherein the step of annealing is carried out for about one hour.
 25. The method according to claim 20, wherein the step of oxidizing the silicon carbide layer comprises oxidizing the silicon carbide layer in an environment comprising N₂O including at least one of oxidizing agents and/or inert gases.
 26. The method according to claim 25, wherein the oxidizing agents comprise at least one of steam and/or O₂.
 27. The method according to claim 20, wherein the step of oxidizing the silicon carbide layer is followed by the step of annealing in an environment comprising N₂O at an anneal temperature of greater than about 1100° C.
 28. The method according to claim 20, wherein the silicon carbide layer comprises 4H polytype silicon carbide.
 29. The method according to claim 20, wherein the silicon carbide layer comprises a silicon carbide layer on a non-silicon carbide substrate.
 30. The method according to claim 20, wherein the silicon carbide layer comprises a portion of a silicon carbide substrate. 